BANLIEUE 13/DISTRICT B 13
France, 2004, 84 minutes, Colour.
Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle, Tony D'Amario, Bibi Naceri, Dany Verissimor- Petit.
Directed by Pierre Morel.
The screenplay written by Luc Besson, stars David Belle, who performs extraordinary stunts. Belle is noted for a group which invented Parkour, a means of performance using every aspect of the body and its movements for action sequences. These were striking in Banlieue 13 and in its sequel, in view 13: Ultimatum (and just as striking in the remake Brick Mansions, especially for someone at the age of 40.
The setting is the near future, District 13 being an area of Paris which is the centre of drug activity and slums, with a wall built separating the area from the rest of the city.
The film is full of action, an extraordinary chase within the first 10 minutes involving David Belle, car chases, martial arts fights, fistfights, shootouts. The action, while interesting, overpowers the rest of the plot, the work by an undercover policeman in capturing drug lords and infiltrating the District to diffuse a neutron bomb. In the background are machinations by the authorities to reclaim the District for development, even willing to detonate the neutron bomb to eliminate the population and bring down the buildings.
This film marks the debut of director, Pierre Morel, who is to make a number of action films including Taken and From Paris with Love.
The film so popular that there was a sequel: District 13: Ultimatum.
1. A Luc Besson action film (later remade as Brick Mansions with David Belle again)?
2. The title, the visualising of the area of Paris, dilapidated, gangs, drug dealing, guns? The plans for the area, to be sold off, the development, to be destroyed by the neutron bomb?
3. The emphasis on action, David Belle and Parkour, his character, his skills, the chases, the fights? The initial 10 minutes, Leito destroying the drugs, the thugs in their pursuit, the extraordinary extended chase – the details, and the later leaping from building to building and urging Damien to do the same? The taking of his sister? His trying to get her back? The doublecross, imprisoned, his killing the corrupt guard? The encounter with Damien, the pretence of the escape, his turning the tables, his recognising Damien as police, their working together, the fights, the athletic turns, the confrontation with Taha, the bomb, the rocket, the confrontation with Taha, the countdown to the bomb, going to the officials, the confrontation? With Leito at the end? Lola, Lino’s friend, her work, abduction, being guarded by the woman, the final fight, death? The happy reunion at the end?
4. Damian, the initial sequence, with the drug lord, taken into the centre, his alerting his squad, the confrontation, the shooting, the pursuit, the taking of the dealer? The commission to go into Brick Mansions, undercover, with the Leito recognising him as police, the struggles, the turning of tables, the fights? The agreement to collaborate? Going together, the confrontation with Taha, the chases, the bomb, the rocket? Further chases, on the roof, the confrontation, the truth about Taha? The confrontation of the Mayor and his associate, the plan to use the bomb in Brick Mansions?
5. Taha, former military, his decision to be Lord of District 13, his personality, cooking, discussions, ruthless and shooting? His girlfriend? The confrontation with Leito and Damien, the bomb, on the roof, not wanting to destroy people, the irony of his being a candidate for the new mayor?
6. The various henchmen, thugs, police, corrupt police, the civil administration and its plans?
7. Action and its domination of the social consciousness screenplay?
